Dr. Kurt Waldheim, former foreign minister of Austria and Secretary-General of the United Nations won almost 50% of the vote and was elected president of Austria. In view of his alleged Nazi past, Israel was placed in a dilemma. Mr. Peres wanted more information on Waldheim's past, while the foreign minister took a grim view and felt that even on the basis of the present evidence, a man like Waldheim, should not have been elected president of a country. He thought this matter did not concern only Israel, but the entire free world and all those who fought against the Nazis. Excerpts:
"I have no intention of becoming involved either in [Austrian presidential] elections, or in guessing election results It's not my business. However, the accusations against Kurt Waldheim, which are most grave, should be checked as to whether they have the necessary legal basis. I myself heard the questions, which were most penetrating, and I heard the answers, which were dubious. I want to give only one example of an unconvincing answer by Kurt Waldheim. He wrote an autobiography. In this book he deleted two years of his life. He was asked why he deleted these two years. He said: These two years have no literary value. Which two years are in question? Precisely those in which he served in the Nazi army. All the other years have a literary value, except for these two. In my opinion, this evokes a great number of problems and fears. This morning with the knowledge of the cabinet, I asked the justice minister to collect a the data, all the accusations, and to make a legal analysis of them, so that Israel government's conclusion will be based on a legal point of view. We are not a newspaper, we are not an institution, we are a government. We must give an answer both serious and substantiated. And if indeed the legal material which we collect and analyze proves that Kurt Waldheim served in the Nazi army and acted against partisans or Jews, we shall draw from this all the appropriate conclusions. That is my opinion on this issue."
Q: Now that Kurt Waldheim has won almost 50 percent of the Austrian vote, the Israeli public is a dilemma with respect to future relations with Austria.
A: There are matters in which rational considerations are not the decisive [factor]. There is some point at which a person must insist on principles without making a strict account. After all, we as a Jewish country must stand against all attempts at rehabilitation of persons who belonged to the Nazi Camp, and, because this may be gradually implemented, we must oppose their return to the political arena. Today it's a person like Waldheim - against whom, let's assume, there's no evidence as yet which could bring him to court. But I believe there are sufficient facts on the basis of which he should not be elected president of a country. For tomorrow a person against whom there is even harsher evidence, may be elected to an important post. This is a matter of a gradual development, and such a trend exists throughout the world.
Q: Waldheim's election is not in our hands, but we can carry out some political act against Austria such as returning our ambassador from Vienna.
A: No. Perhaps it's a heaven-sent gift that there remains a month for the Austrian people to consider the matter. This is not only our affair, but that of the entire free world. Perhaps people will begin to look into this matter, and start thinking whether it is desirable and worthwhile that in Europe or in the free world in general, such persons return to the top of the political pyramid.
Q: When you heard of Waldheim's almost 50 percent victory, against the background of all the suspicions against him, didn't you reflect on the future of our relations with Austria?
A: As I said, I am not making a calculation. Well manage and we will know how to defend our interests. But there is a Jewish element here. We as a Jewish country cannot be indifferent when Nazis or Nazism is in question. This cannot be. This is not an international Austrian matter - a matter which refers to the Nazi period is not a country's internal affair. This is a matter concerning the entire world, and first and foremost, the Jewish people. And the Jewish nation must be insistent. There are limits to perpetual decline in the mud of opportunism. Principles must also be insisted upon.
Q: Even at the price of future relations with Europe?
A: This has no bearing on future relations with Europe. This has no bearing on it at all. I do not believe that Europe is opposed to our stand.